Australian Motoring Festival gets first takers

THREE car companies – Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota – have confirmed they will exhibit at the Australian Motoring Festival (AMF) in late March.

The announcement opens the bidding between the Melbourne Showground-based event and Motorworld – a second competing show planned for the Sandown Raceway in November – also in Victoria's capital.

Motorworld is yet to lock in its automotive exhibitor line-up, saying it will make an announcement in May, after the Australian Motoring Festival and Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

AMF’s three confirmed attendees will bring a diverse spread of vehicles to the show, with Toyota looking after the mainstream models, Mercedes holding up the luxury end and the prancing horse offering a high-end supercar marque.

Organisers will be hoping the confirmation of the early partners will prompt more to sign on the dotted line in the final weeks leading up to the event.

The show is being backed by the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) and the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), with discounted entry prices for RACV members.

In a media release issued today, Ferrari Australia CEO Herbert Appleroth said the show would provide an opportunity for prancing horse fans to get up close to the exotic vehicles in “stunning” surroundings.

“We are absolutely delighted to be a featured brand at the Australian Motoring Festival,” he said.

“This is a unique opportunity for lovers of cars to get close and personal with our brand and our beautiful vehicles.

“Our Ferrari Experience display area will feature 30 years of Ferrari supercar history and a stunning Ferrari showroom with the latest range of Ferrari road cars.” Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific CEO Horst von Sanden said the show provided an excellent platform for Mercedes-Benz to showcase its latest safety technology and performance vehicles.

“We will be featuring Mercedes-AMG models and the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy during the festival, along with a few surprise vehicles,” he said.

Toyota also weighed in, with Toyota Australia regional manager Stephen Slater saying the company was looking forward to car fans getting first-hand experience of the Japanese brand's range at the show.

“The Australian Motoring Festival will be a great opportunity to let motoring enthusiasts look, feel and touch all the different vehicles in our extensive range and experience the technology in an interesting, interactive environment,” he said.

“We’re really excited to be involved, and look forward to bringing festival patrons into the Toyota family.” The Melbourne Showgrounds gates open from March 26 to March 29, with punters paying $30 for adults and $20 for children. RACV members will be offered a discounted entry fee.